Don’t settle for good enough.

Friends in Christ, I like ketchup on my hamburger. I'm sure you've got preferred toppings as well. If there's ketchup available, I'm not going to eat a dry burger. Why settle for less than what I really want?   I like to sleep with a pillow. You probably do too. If the bed linens are off for washing, when we put them back on, I make sure to put my pillow back in place. Why would I sleep without it?   A hamburger with no ketchup might be good, but it's not great. A bed with no pillow may be acceptable, but it's far from perfect. There are many times when we're unwilling to settle for "good enough." God doesn't want you to settle for "good enough" in your relationship with him either.   Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)   Our calling is to discern. Often, we recognize the call to discern good from evil, but here we're called to also discern between good, acceptable, and perfect. Don't settle for good enough. Don't settle for acceptable. Jesus loves you perfectly. Don't settle for anything less than his perfect love; perfect forgiveness; perfect life.   Here for you, Matt Behrens, Pastor Small Groups Strong is a group of men who want to keep each other strong in faith by reading God's word together over a mug of coffee. Join Dave Mueller and Pastor Matt Thursday mornings at 8:30am in the Parish Hall. (Bring your Bible) What's Your Next Step? Pastor Matt wants to help you find your next step in following Jesus and connecting at Calvary. If you're interested, come to Calvary 101 in the courtyard after worship on June 6. We'll have some good snacks. You'll meet some (possibly new) friends at Calvary. You'll get some help finding the right next step for you as we follow Jesus together.   Contact Pastor Matt   mbehrens@calvaryslz.org if you have questions. Hope to see you there! The Marriage Course After Pastor Matt and Sherrah went through this course, they wanted to bring it to more people at Calvary and in the Bay Area. Now it's available for you and your friends. Sign up for yourself, or share this invitation with a friend. The Marriage Course is private, self-paced, and available online now. Click below for more information. BayAreaMarriageCourse.com Women's Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays at 3pm on Zoom to study the Sermon on the Mount. No study book necessary, just bring your Bible! Women's Bible Study on Zoom The Truth Project The Truth Project study group meets in-person following Sunday worship. Videos and discussion will take place in the sanctuary immediately following worship. If you have questions, feel free to contact Dave Schultz by email or phone (510-507-5634) Worship Worship This Sunday We gather in the sactuarry at 9:00am this Sunday. The printable worship below is provided for those who might worship at home, or those who would like a print copy as they follow the service. Home Worship - printable Received this By Forward? Want to Sign Up? If you received this email from a friend and you want to be added to Calvary's email list, use the link below. Welcome, friend!   Sign-Up for Emails Copyright © 2021 Calvary Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Calvary Lutheran Church 17200 Via Magdalena San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2928 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

We are a small part of something very, very big.

I've been reminded that my Christian family is much, much bigger than I often imagine.

Friends in Christ, I'm feeling small today… in a good way. Last weekend I was at a bi-lingual ordination service, and English speakers were in the minority. For Pentecost worship I recently reviewed a video of the Lord's Prayer recorded in multiple languages.   I've been reminded that my Christian family is much, much bigger than I often imagine. The perspectives, cultures, languages, histories, experiences, and resources of God's people are so much bigger than my life; my family; my context. I'm a small part of a very big family in Christ. You are too! This is a good thing.   It's good to remember that we are a small part of something very, very big. It's also good to know that God loves the small, individual people who make up this family.   There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Ephesians 4:4-7)   Go ahead and feel small today… and know that God brings us small people into his big plans!   Here for you, Matt Behrens, Pastor Small Groups   Strong is a group of men who want to keep each other strong in faith by reading God's word together over a mug of coffee. Join Dave Mueller and Pastor Matt Thursday mornings at 8:30am in the Parish Hall. (Bring your Bible)   What's Your Next Step? Pastor Matt wants to help you find your next step in following Jesus and connecting at Calvary. If you're interested, come to Calvary 101 in the courtyard after worship on June 6. We'll have some good snacks. You'll meet some (possibly new) friends at Calvary. You'll get some help finding the right next step for you as we follow Jesus together.   Contact Pastor Matt   mbehrens@calvaryslz.org if you have questions. Hope to see you there! The Marriage Course After Pastor Matt and Sherrah went through this course, they wanted to bring it to more people at Calvary and in the Bay Area. Now it's available for you and your friends. Sign up for yourself, or share this invitation with a friend. The Marriage Course is private, self-paced, and available online now. Click below for more information. BayAreaMarriageCourse.com Women's Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays at 3pm on Zoom to study the Sermon on the Mount. No study book necessary, just bring your Bible! Women's Bible Study on Zoom The Truth Project The Truth Project study group meets in-person following Sunday worship. Videos and discussion will take place in the sanctuary immediately following worship. If you have questions, feel free to contact Dave Schultz by email or phone (510-507-5634) Worship Worship This Sunday We gather in the sactuarry at 9:00am this Sunday. The printable worship below is provided for those who might worship at home, or those who would like a print copy as they follow the service. Home Worship - printable Calendar This Week at Calvary, May 24 - 30 Monday - 24th      7:00pm   Board of Governance (Zoom) Thursday - 27th    5:30pm         Wittenberg Board (Zoom) Received this By Forward? Want to Sign Up? If you received this email from a friend and you want to be added to Calvary's email list, use the link below. Welcome, friend!   Sign-Up for Emails Copyright © 2021 Calvary Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Calvary Lutheran Church 17200 Via Magdalena San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2928 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.